CenterEdge Software Blog

Fall is fast approaching (yes, go ahead and order your pumpkin spice with wild abandon), and most of us in the amusement industry are gearing up for fall trade shows to learn what’s new and hot in the space.

While you’re on the hunt for your next attraction or product offering, it’s also a good time to evaluate the current state of your facility’s operations to make sure your systems and capabilities are enough to support your continued growth.

Your point of sale touches every guest and every dollar, so it’s a critical component of your success. Here are five warning signs that will let you know it’s time to consider an upgrade.

Are you doing all you can at your FEC to maximize your bottom line?

Get guests to come in and keep them coming back for more with a solid sales process and a toolbox full of marketing efforts to entice guests ... and improve profits. Here’s what you can do to keep your facility top of mind and guests jumping for more.

You work hard to run your business and offer your guests a safe, clean and exciting place to have fun; naturally, you want it to thrive.

One important tool that successful businesses have in common is a well-performing online purchase experience.

Some of the benefits include receiving revenue in advance, shorter wait times and “sales while you sleep” – but if implemented ineffectively, your online store could be working against your business.

In our experience, there are a handful of common pitfalls many FECs, trampoline parks, and amusement and water parks still succumb to … and they could be costing your business money. Here are the top five:

Have you ever toured a home that’s been renovated and enlarged several times by different people?  Often it seems like there is wasted space and a disjointed look. This can certainly happen in business, too.

With a facility that starts off small and then grows piece by piece over time, things can start feeling unorganized to your guests, which can put your business at risk. After a while, it’s necessary to take a step back and determine if your processes and systems — and even your team — can take your business to the next level. 

Maximize your use of electronic event invitations at your FEC to handle RSVPs, waivers and more.

Think electronic event invitations are just a value-add for guests? Think again. Today’s CenterEdge Pro Tip video discusses other key benefits that will help your FEC maximize the potential of an integrated electronic invitation system with Advantage Groups. Using electronic event invitations, you can track everything from RSVPs to waivers all while collecting data for future marketing efforts.

Using the right language, frontline sales can grow per capita spending one conversation at a time.

Increasing per capita spending at the frontline is arguably the most important, but often overlooked, focus that can make an entertainment facility thrive. It’s that elusive unicorn that appears to be just out of reach. We see it. We want it. But how do we get it?

Upgrade your guest experience and increase revenue and efficiency with these six tips.

Mobile point of sale stations are a no-brainer in large facilities with a fluctuating traffic flow, but nearly any size facility can use mobile stations to improve operations in the front and back of the house. They allow your park to operate flexibly so that you can provide your guests with the best experience and fastest service possible. But are you doing all that you can with your mobile stations? Read on for six ways to take full advantage of mobile stations in your park – and reap all the benefits.

Maximize efficiency and grow your revenue with these easy to implement tips.

Group and birthday party business are critical elements of virtually any successful amusement and entertainment venue. They provide a facility not only with revenue, but also serve as an excellent source of exposure to new patrons. But some facility owners and managers still operate their special event business as a separate entity from the rest of their operation, with separate systems and processes for everything from booking to admissions to payment. For example, many facilities operate in a cashless environment in the day to day but fail to realize the full revenue and operational potential your business can gain by going cashless for special events. Here are five reasons to take your special events cashless.

You only get one chance to make a first impression: Spoiler alert – Admissions staff are the key.

Frontline training is obviously a must in every entertainment venue. But many organizations take a haphazard approach to training which can put your facility at risk for creating a negative first impression. Don’t teach your team how to smile but forget to include how to make change (no, it’s not as common sense as you might think). Also remember that your cashier interaction must go beyond the transaction. The key is an effective training process that ensures you have all the bases covered. Here are five steps to help you implement point of sale training that sticks.